Holopainen to Represent Finnish National Team in Euro Championship

May 23, 2014
By ODU Athletics

NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University women’s basketball player Annika Holopainen will spend her summer representing her country by playing for the Finnish National Team in the 2014 European Basketball Championship, hosted by FIBA.

“I am really excited to play in Europe again this summer and see all of my old teammates,” explained Holopainen. “It is an honor to play on the Finnish National Team and represent my country. This opportunity is going to give me great experience against some very talented players from all over the world.”

Throughout this summer, Holopainen and the rest of the Finnish National Team will take-on Sweden, Estonia, Montenegro and Germany two times each; in addition to one showdown against each of Slovenia and Ukraine, respectively.

“All of this travel excites me. I love seeing new places and hopefully I’ll be even more prepared for life on the road in college,” concluded Holopainen.

Annika transferred to ODU and had to take a redshirt this past year due to NCAA regulations after playing the 2012-13 season for the University of Portland and being named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team for averaging 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.

The 6-foot-1-inch rising redshirt-sophomore Lady Monarch forward has previously played on Finland’s U-16 and U-18 National Teams. In 2011 for the U-18 squad, Holopainen netted 17.8 points and hauled down 7.0 boards a game.

Holopainen was also named to the 2014 C-USA Academic Honor Roll and was one of just two Lady Monarchs to attain the prestigious Academic Medal for possessing a cumulative GPA of a 3.75 or higher.